Raw Intel

New footage shows the U.S. Army’s next-generation M1E3 Abrams tank and two prototypes competing to replace the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle firing live rounds, one of the first public looks at the vehicles in action. The footage was shared on LinkedIn by Alexander Miller, chief technology officer to the U.S. Army chief of staff. Miller […]View the full article

L3Harris Technologies has received a three-year contract worth up to $60 million to develop a long-range, maneuverable missile for the U.S. Army that is designed to shoot down small and medium drones at greater distances than today’s interceptors. The company announced the award on Oct. 23, 2026, under the Xtended Range Counter-sUAS Missile program run […]View the full article

Those who aren't convinced that UAS will change warfare permanently need to watch this video, posted yesterday: Pardon the cliche, but this technology is truly transformational. For some interesting commentary on swarms, check out John Robb. The naval applications are there, too. How could AEGIS, RAM, ESSM, CIWS, or any other envisioned air defense system defend against a lethal "suicide" drone swarm aimed at a ship, especially when they come in from all directions and mass before attack? Jamming might work to some degree, but there are countermeasures for countermeasures. What about swarming surface or undersea weapons? The fact that this technology was …

It is all still here - and we're on a Russia kick today. On top of that ... it is the details, details that I like. Wearing a tie, and an ill-fitting one at that, on the bridge. Old school CRTs. Paper and crayons. What looks like very unsanitary Bakelite handsets ... but besides that ... they do have some nice lines those Russian ships. View the full article

Americas The US Army received the first Infantry Squad Vehicle made by General Motors Defense. The vehicle, which the Army received at GM Proving Grounds, was the result of the first major contract GM Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of GM, has won since its formation since 2017. GM Defense delivered the vehicle just 120 days after winning the $214.3 million deal to produce it in June. “One hundred and twenty days from contract award to delivery is a significant milestone, and I am very proud of the team for this accomplishment,” said David Albritton, president of GM Defense in a statement. “We’re leveraging General Motors’ engineering prowess and immense manufacturing …

Americas A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II from the Idaho Air National Guard was given a heritage paint scheme to celebrate the unit’s 75th anniversary and to pay homage to its lineage from the 405th Fighter Squadron during the Second World War. The “8N” painted on the side of the aircraft indicates the aircraft code of the 405th Fighter Squadron. Boeing won a $101.7 million contract modification for KC-46 engineering, manufacturing, and development contract. This modification provides for the exercise of Option Five for interim contractor support and the exercise of the options for logistics service representatives/field service representatives support for Seymour John…

Americas General Dynamics won a $93.5 million deal for M1A2 Abrams engineering, manufacturing, design and production. The M1A2 is an improvement of the Abrams M1A1 main battle tank. It includes a commander’s independent thermal viewer, weapon station, position navigation equipment, and a full set of controls and displays linked by digital data bus. Work will take place in Ohio. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2025. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works won a $12.9 million modification for the accomplishment of planning yard efforts such as engineering, technical, planning, ship configuration, data and logistics efforts for DDG-1000 class destroyers post-delivery an…

Few navalists can look around them and feel content that their peers, government, and the American people understand - or for that matter seem to care - that our nation's wealth, health, and security is all based on the fact that we are a maritime and aerospace republic. Without excellence, mastery, and control of these two areas in the face of the challenge from China, all else is in danger. Inside and outside government, what needs to be done to create the conditions so we can provide for those generations who follow us the place and the world previous generations earned for us? Making a return to visit, our guest for the full hour this Sunday from 5-6pm Eastern to d…

There is no such thing as a "normal watch," especially on Nov. 22, 1975 onboard the USS BELKNAP (CG-26); We were on plane guard. They put us on a plane guard because their TACAN was down. We had been making this same maneuver to port eight or nine times a day – from the start of the turn to completion was 3600 yards. This time we made a turn to starboard. I’ve read the investigation report, so even though I was down in the fire room, I’ve since come to know what happened up on the bridge. With the lights of the carrier looking the same, there was confusion, and miscommunication, and we made a right-hand turn this time, and the arc was half of what it had been for the last…

For those who missed the previous announcements, please read the previous posts for the details, but after 18 2/3 years here, I will no longer be posting on blogspot. Worry not, just click here to go to substack. That is where I'll be. View the full article

Americas Dominion Energy won a $27.5 million order for design and construction of Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program P505 electrical distribution upgrades at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina, and the implementation of selected energy conservation measures for lighting improvements. Work will be performed in Beaufort, South Carolina, and is expected to be […]View the full article

Americas Mid-Atlantic Technical and Executive Consulting LLC won a $10.4 million firm-fixed modification to a previously awarded contract. This modification adds scope through additional contract line-item numbers for technical evaluation, proposal evaluation, cost analysis, price analysis, and negotiation support services in support of the air vehicle production and sustainment efforts for the F-35 Joint Strike […]View the full article

Americas MilTrain II JV won an $84,.6 million contract for MQ-9 Aircrew Training Support. This contract provides for all personnel, equipment, tools, materials, supervision, and all other items and services required to perform and support MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft aircrew academic instruction; courseware development; and air and ground intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance test and training support; and major command certified approaches/supplemental recovery procedures. Work will be performed at Holloman Air Force Base and White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico; Creech AFB, U.S. Air Force Weapons School, and 556 Test and Evaluation Squadron, Nevada; March Ai…

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has approved a $1.5 billion program to increase the production of armored personnel carriers and tanks over the next five years, a move aimed at reinforcing the country’s ground forces after months of intense combat. According to a statement from the ministry, the plan “will increase the armored vehicle inventory […] The post Israel approves $1.5B plan to expand Merkava tank production first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

Serbia has showcased its most advanced main battle tank to date, the M-84AS3, during the “Strength of Unity” military parade. The event highlighted Belgrade’s ongoing efforts to modernize its armored forces while maintaining a complex balance between aspirations for European Union membership and defense cooperation with partners ranging from France and Israel to China and […] The post Serbia shows new M-84AS3 tank with active protection system first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) chief Seok Jong-gun warned this week that Chinese sanctions targeting Hanwha Ocean’s U.S.-based shipbuilding affiliates could eventually affect the U.S.-Korea naval cooperation project known as MASGA (Make American Shipbuilding Great Again). During a National Assembly defense committee hearing on Thursday, Seok said, “While there is no immediate impact, […] The post Chinese sanctions cloud U.S.-Korea naval cooperation first appeared on Defence Blog.View the full article

The U.S. Army has awarded a new contract to The Boeing Company for the production of up to 60 CH-47F Block II cargo helicopters for Germany, as part of a foreign military sales agreement. The hybrid cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract is valued at $876 million and includes performance-based logistics support, training, and non-recurring engineering. According […]View the full article

Northrop Grumman has completed a new demonstration of its mine countermeasures technology, showing that its AN/AQS-24 minehunting system can be integrated with an uncrewed surface platform to meet emerging U.S. Navy operational requirements. According to a company statement, Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully demonstrated the integration of its AN/AQS-24 minehunting system with a Mine Countermeasures Unmanned […]View the full article

Destinus, a European aerospace and defense company, announced the updated versions of its modular precision-strike weapons and interceptor systems, releasing new details on the Ruta Block2 cruise missile, the Vector Vista Block2 navigation system and the Hornet Block2 quick-response interceptor. The company published technical descriptions of the upgraded systems on its website. According to Destinus, […]View the full article

Ukrainian anti-drone systems manufacturer Kvertus has successfully tested a new maritime application scenario for its Azimuth electronic intelligence system, according to a report published by the defense outlet Oboronka. The company said the test demonstrated the system’s ability to provide early detection of radio-controlled unmanned aerial vehicles at sea, warning operators about approaching threats before […]View the full article